Vietnam is considering the possibility of legalizing different forms of gambling to better manage the activities and get bigger funds, its news agency VNA reported quoting a local newspaper as saying. The ministries of Finance and Planning and Investment are drafting legal documents to submit to the government for consideration, under which special regulations can be issued to ensure the sound operation of gambling services providers...

The House of Representatives to vote on a proposal that would legalize gaming on Saipan and make the former La Fiesta shopping mall the center of such activities. House members voted 15-1 to pass on first reading House Bill 15-322, which would exempt the operation of Texas Hold ’em poker and other card games, as well as video lottery terminals, from the gambling prohibition.

The Communist Party and the state think that it is now not the right time to allow open casinos, because opinions still vary about this. Deputy Prime Minister said so during the National Assembly deputies about whether the country should allow open casinos at the latest legislative session. Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung said: “It is not because we still cannot keep control over casinos.

Bulgarian Ministry of Finance submitted proposals that would regulate and tax online betting following a recent review. According to one of its major newspapers, Trud, the nation has been considering a more pragmatic approach to online gambling. Trud newspaper said a more pragmatic approach has been considered for over a year as hundreds of millions of dollars are thought to leak through online gambling sites untaxed.

Taking advantage of the poker room boom around the world, casinos in Quebec hope the province’s plan to legalize Texas hold ’em poker will bring in a full house. The new law will put Quebec casinos on a level playing field with some of the largest casinos in Ontario, and will also allow them to compete with a growing number of illegal gambling houses, two places where customers can already play the popular poker variant.

Administration officials confirmed that Sheldon Adelson, majority owner of the Las Vegas Sands Casino and one of the US wealthiest individuals, has personally held discussions with Governor Deval L. Patrick’s economic development secretary about the state’s pending decision whether to legalize casino gambling.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic party plans to legalise casino gambling next year. Seiko Noda, who heads an LDP study group that is drafting the legislation, said the target was to pass a bill by the end of the next ordinary Diet session in June 2008. The ruling party hopes casinos will spur tourism, help revitalise local economies and increase tax revenues. Opening up Japan to casinos is also likely to provide big opportunities for foreign operators, as few Japanese companies have the expertise necessary to develop the large-scale operations being envisioned.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic party plans to legalise casino gambling next year. Seiko Noda, who heads an LDP study group that is drafting the legislation, said the target was to pass a bill by the end of the next ordinary Diet session in June 2008. The ruling party hopes casinos will spur tourism, help revitalise local economies and increase tax revenues.

The State of Texas currently does not allow casino gambling, but if State Senators John Corona of Dallas and Rodney Ellis of Houston have their way, voters will be able to decide in December whether to allow casinos in the state. The new bill, which has been proposed by these two senators, would allow voters to decide the future of gambling in the state.

South African government has decided to legalize the rapidly expanding online gambling industry, after having learnt from the US that outlawing online gambling does little to solve the problem. South Africa is now on course to legalise this activity. But while it is trying to formulate legislation to control online gambling, more and more South Africans are becoming addicted to gambling at virtual casinos.